Jesse Michael Gomez, 52, has been identified by the San Diego Police Department as the man who allegedly murdered Officer Jonathan “JD” DeGuzman and wounded Officer Wade Irwin, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Gomez’ name was released by the department on the evening of July 29 after a manhunt resulted in the arrest of a possible second suspect. However, the second suspect has not yet been charged. Gomez was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
Officer Jonathan DeGuzman. Photo released by San Diego Police Department.
Officer DeGuzman was a 43-year-old married father of two who had been on the San Diego police force for 16 years and was, along with Irwin, a member of an elite gang unit. It’s still not known whether or not the incident started with a traffic or pedestrian stop, Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman said.
The murder of DeGuzman comes on the heels of police officer murders in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Dallas, Texas. In those cases, the shooters were upset, at least in part, over police shootings of African-American men in Baton Rouge and Minnesota. However, the motive in the San Diego shooting was still unclear the day after the July 28 late night shooting. The Los Angeles Times says DeGuzman was the 10th American police officer shot in July 2016.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Gomez Was Tracked to a Nearby Ravine Because He Left a Blood Trail, Police said
According to San Diego police, Gomez was also wounded in the gun battle. Police followed his blood to a ravine near the shooting and arrested him there, said The Los Angeles Times.
The LA Times said Gomez had a gunshot wound to the chest and was critically injured. Gomez is still in the hospital, said Patch.
2. The Officers Were Part of a Gang Unit & Were Wearing Bullet Proof Vests
Those vests didn’t prevent them from being shot multiple times in the chest in what police said was a fast-unfolding shooting that was also captured on at least one officer’s body cam video.
Three police officers have been shot and killed in San Diego since 2010, said The Los Angeles Times. They were part of an elite gang suppression unit, said Channel 7 San Diego.
3. The Motive For the Shooting Was Unclear & Police Don’t Know if it Was an Ambush
Officer Wade Irwin. (San Diego Police Department photo)
Police are not certain what the motive was for the double shooting; the officers called for emergency backup, and when officers arrived, they found them wounded and rushed them to the hospital in a patrol car.
The Wall Street Journal noted that police shooters in Dallas and Baton Rouge had specifically targeted police officers; however, in San Diego, authorities were still investigating the exact circumstances, including whether the shooting was an ambush, said The Wall Street Journal.
4. A Second Man Was Arrested After a House Was Surrounded, But it’s Not Clear Whether He was Involved
That man, Marcus Antonio Cassani, 41, was arrested after police launched an extensive manhunt to see whether there was more than one suspect. They surrounded a house the man was in and eventually took him into custody after a standoff. However, he was arrested on an outstanding warrant, and it’s not yet clear whether he was involved in the shooting or not. He has not yet been charged.
Patch quoted Chief Zimmerman as saying, “At this time, we have not determined if Cassani is involved in the murder of DeGuzman and attempted murder of Irwin.”
5. The San Diego Padres Paused For a Moment of Silence For Officer DeGuzman, Who Was Remembered as a Man Who Talked About His Family Constantly
The police chief said that DeGuzman was married with two young children. The injured officer, Irwin, was also married, and his wife was at his side at the hospital, police said. Chief Zimmerman said that she knew DeGuzman and described him as someone who always talked about his family. Irwin and his wife also have a young child.
“I personally worked with him when I was a lieutenant at Mid-City Division,” she said, according to Fox 5. “I know him, and this is gut-wrenching. He cared. He came to work every single day just wanting to make a positive difference in the lives of our community. And last night he lost his life trying to make a positive difference and trying to protect our community.”
DeGuzman, who was known as “JD,” had been on the force for 16 years. He had previously received the department’s purple heart after he was stabbed during a traffic stop.
Jonathan DeGuzman: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know
Jonathan DeGuzman, the San Diego Police Officer shot in the line of duty, had previously received an award after being stabbed on duty, said news reports.
Jessica McBride is a Heavy contributor. She was a crime, government, and breaking news reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and reporter for the Waukesha Freeman newspaper. Her award-winning work has appeared in numerous magazine, newspaper, and online publications. She has also appeared as a crime reporter on Investigation Discovery Channel, History Channel, and Oxygen Channel. She can be reached by email at jessica.mcbride@heavy.com.July 30, 2016 2:20 am
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